The Gift Of Magic And Wisdom

Hello everyone!

Our Magical and Spiritual courses make the perfect Christmas gift!

Every year we struggle to find that perfect Christmas gift and here are 6 reasons our courses take the hassle out of gift giving.  

1. Fits Everyone’s Schedule

There is no pressure to be online on a specific day at a specific time. Here’s how it works… Each course is held in Yahoo Groups. Each week new material is posted in the group for that week’s lesson. Since the lessons are sent out weekly that gives the student an entire week to read the lessons and post any questions.  It truly fits everyone’s schedule.

2. Something For Everyone

Having trouble finding that special gift for someone who has everything?

There are 8 courses to choose from. Each is packed with information and many years of knowledge. Visit my website to see the outline for each course http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/Email_Courses.html

Santa Muerte Course

Begins: JANUARY 4, 2017

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Healing Spiritual Illness Course

Begins: JANUARY 4, 2017

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Spiritual Cleansing Course

Begins: JANUARY 7, 2017

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Saint Magic (Folk Magic) Course

Begins: JANUARY 4, 2017

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Mastering The Art Course

Begins: JANUARY 4, 2017

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Crystal Energy Course

Begins: JANUARY 7, 2017

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Reading The Spanish Cards Course

Begins: JANUARY 7, 2017

Course Duration: 4 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Working With Angels Course

Begins: JANUARY 7, 2017

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

3. Six Weeks Of Surprises

These online courses are like opening a new gift each and every week for 6 weeks. The student will be introduced to more exciting and powerful information that he/she can start applying immediately.

4. Certificate

At the end of the course the student will be granted a certificate of completion sent by email that he or she can print out, frame, and proudly display on their wall.

5. Fits Every Magical System

My courses are written to reflect my catholic background but can easily be adjusted to fit any magical path by simply changing the wording of who the student prays to. I have many people from different magical paths who take these courses and rave about them. There is truly something for everyone!

6. Lifetime Of Knowledge

The information and instruction given in these courses will provide the student with life long knowledge which makes this gift last forever.

For more information on each of these courses and to purchase them visit my website at http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/Email_Courses.html Hurry seats go fast!

I would like to extend my deepest holiday wishes to all of you. I wish everyone love, health, wealth, and happiness.

Many Blessings.

Concha Ruiz aka The Curious Curandera

Archangel Gabriel

The Messenger …..

Gabriel’s most famous message was the Annunciation for the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Luke 1:26-38 (KJV)

Helper Of Clairvoyance, Dreams And Mystery …..

Gabriel was titled for these things after helping Daniel understand his dreams 

Daniel 8:15-27 (KJV)

Gabriel is the Archangel of postal workers, broadcasters, telecommunications workers, messengers, stamp collectors, messengers, and all forms of communications

Gabriel Can Be Called For Assistance In Any Of These Matters …..

All forms of Communications, Clairvoyance, Clarity, Confidence, Divination, Dream Interpretation, Eloquence, Fertility, Guidance, Happiness, Intuition, Inspiration, Journalism, Pregnancy And Other Maternity Matters, Purification, Psychic Abilities, Procrastination, Reconciliation, Writing, and Making The Right Decisions

Gabriel’s Magical Associations …..

Feastday: September 29

Element: Water

Day: Monday

Planet: The Moon

Number: 9

Metal: Silver

Direction: North

Incense: Myrrh, Jasmine, Nag Champa

Candle Color: Silver, White, or Yellow

Symbol: The Lily, the trumpet, inkwell and quill

Gabriel is also called the Angel of the Annunciation and the Angel of Resurrection. The name “Gabriel” means “God is my strength”. Any work done with Gabriel should always be good in nature and intention. Try to follow Gabriel’s magical associations as much as possible when asking for assistance. Archangel Gabriel is known for giving advice through dreams.

Litany Of Archangel Gabriel

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, glorious Archangel, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, strength of God, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, who stands before the throne of God, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, model of prayer, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, herald of the Incarnation, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, who revealed the glories of Mary, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, Prince of Heaven, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, ambassador of the Most High, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, guardian of the Immaculate Virgin, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, who foretold the greatness of Jesus, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, peace and light of souls, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, scourge of unbelievers, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, admirable teacher, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, strength of the just, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, protector of the faithful, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, first adorer of the Divine Word, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, defender of the Faith, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, zealous for the honor of Jesus Christ, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, who the Scriptures praise as the Angel sent by God to Mary, the Virgin, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

Pray for us, blessed Archangel Gabriel,

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let Us Pray: O blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech thee, intercede for us at the throne of Divine Mercy in our present necessities, that as thou didst announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation, so through thy prayers and patronage in Heaven we may obtain the benefits of the same, and sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living. Amen.  

Magical Online Witchcraft Courses

The Curious Curandera online courses are once again open for enrollment.

Registration begins NOW

Visit my website for more information on each of the courses. Hurry seats go fast!

http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/Email_Courses.html

Santa Muerte Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Healing Spiritual Illness Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Spiritual Cleansing Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 19, 2016

Saint Magic (Folk Magic) Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Mastering the Art Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Crystal Energy Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 19, 2016

Reading The Spanish Cards Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 19, 2016

Working With Angels Course

Begins: NOVEMBER 19, 2016

Damiana

Turnera Diffusa

Magical Use: attraction, love, lust, marriage, passion, romance, sexual relations, seduction, heat things up in the bedroom, sex magic

Hardiness Zone: 9 -11

Cultivation: Damiana is a perennial shrub that reaches between 2 to 3 feet in height.  It prefers a location where it will receive full sun.  It is known to attract butterflies, bees, birds, and other wildlife. Damiana will adapt to most soil conditions but does best in a well drained loamy environment.  Allow the soil t dry out between waterings.

Toxicity: Avoided in pregnancy.  May affect the control of blood sugar in diabetic patients.

Family: Turneraceae

Properties: Nervine, Astringent, Bitter, Tonic, Stimulant, Aphrodisiac

Ancestor Altar, Curandera Style

I believe that death is an extension of life on another plane; a graduation to a higher level of existence, but yet still connected to the physical earthly one. Here in the earthly, the vehicle is the body, there it’s the spirit.

Death is a daily part of a spiritual workers life. We petition spirit to assist us through candles, prayers, and divination. We want them around, we need them in order to achieve our goals.

In Curanderismo, it’s believed we couldn’t bring spiritual/magical workings to pass without the help of the dead, without the help of Spirit, a Saint, deceased family, or another deity, the living and the dead work as a team. The dead offer us insight, guidance, knowledge, secrets, wisdom, and assistance. Therefore keeping an ancestor altar is very important to us. The ancestor altar becomes a bridge from here to the world of the dead and a constant connection to loved ones.

Erecting and dedicating the space brings responsibility. Attend it at least once a week, daily is better. The altar is a place of give and take. We want the help of our deceased; they want our light, our prayers, and a connection to the living. Here is where you take your problems, worries, concerns, needs, and happiness. This is the place to sit and talk with the ancestors. Here you can ask for assistance, guidance, and solutions to any problem. On the other hand you don’t want to use the space only when you need something ... you also want to attend the altar just to spend time with them, without wanting something in return.

The more the altar is used, the more energy it builds. Eventually the energy becomes so powerful that someone walking near it can actually feel the power radiating from it.

Metal surfaces shouldn’t be used for the altar since most spirits are turned away from it. The best surface is wood. I find that an old chest-of-drawers works especially well since you can store things inside it.

In Curanderismo white altar cloths are used since it represents peace, purity, and the dead. Bright colors used on this altar are only for special occasions, not as an every day thing. This can include an ancestor’s birthday or some other special occasion.

Like everything else in spiritual work the altar is cleansed. Holy Water alone can be used for the cleansing but I like to prepare a special liquid for the job. I use a blend of cleansing herbs consisting of Rue, Basil, Hyssop, and Holy Water. Sometimes, if I feel moved, I may include Rosemary to the mix. After the cleansing, the altar is then spiritually fumigated. My preferred incense for fumigation is “Church Incense”. I think it’s also called “Gloria Incense”. This is the same incense that the Catholic Churches use.

The entire time I’m cleansing and fumigating the altar, I’m praying. I’ll start out with Psalm 23 and then pray from the heart asking to keep bad spirits away and for protection. To end the cleansing ritual I rub the entire surface of the altar with fresh yellow marigolds. These flowers represent death. Spirits like them and are attracted to them.

Photos of the deceased and items that belonged to them can be added. Don’t forget trinkets and gadgets they liked or were known to wear. Larger objects can be set on the floor near the altar or hung on the wall over the altar. Photos placed on the altar should never include a person who is still living. It’s believed to bring tremendous bad luck, illness, and possibly a shorter lifespan to the person.

The altar should also have a bible or a book of prayers so that you can read to your spirits. You can either choose what you will read or let them choose. Ask them to lead you to the bible verse or prayer they would like to hear then open the book at random and read from those pages. Sometimes what they lead you to is actually something you need for yourself rather than something they want.

A clear crystal vase with fresh cut flowers can go anywhere on the altar. The flowers can be of any kind and of any color. They serve as an offering and are also a sign of respect. The crystal vase amplifies everything at the altar (communication, work, energy, etc). Any candle burned here should be white.

A Crucifix and Holy Water are always present. The Holy Water can be placed in a spray bottle for ease of use. It’s used to cleanse your hands when you first approach the altar and to cleanse your hands after working there. Just mist your hands with it. You can also lightly spray the altar top with the Holy Water to refresh the spirits.

Offering are limitless and are only given during special occasions or for answered petitions. Offerings can include any food item and any type of beverage especially if it was the deceased favorite food.

The altar should be set up with at least 3 glasses of fresh water. Water is an important substance in Curanderismo. Sixty percent of our body is water, Seventy percent of our brain is water, Ninety percent of our lungs are water, and Eighty percent of our blood is water. Without it all living things would cease to exist. Water is refreshing and purifying, it’s also a very spiritual substance that links us to other realms. It’s a substance that makes communication to the dead easier, its presence absorbs negativity and it’s a vehicle to receive and transport spiritual energy.

The 3 glasses of water should be placed in the center of the altar to form a triangle shape. The point of the triangle should be facing towards the front of the altar and the long base facing towards the rear.

The glass to the right rear is dedicated to your maternal ancestors, the glass to the left rear is your paternal ancestors, and the single glass towards the front is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. This particular setup is for honoring only the ancestors. The water should be changed once a week or sooner if they develop a lot of bubbles.

In Curanderismo it’s okay to add one Saint or Folk Saint to the ancestor altar, one that you feel very close to ... but just one .... Santa Muerte is not included in this choice. I work closely with a particular Folk Saint so I also have his picture on the altar since I consider him to be part of the family. With the addition of a Saint or Folk Saint the glasses are set up in the same triangle pattern but the dedication of the glasses are different.

In this case, the glass to the right rear is dedicated to your maternal and paternal ancestors, the glass to the left rear is dedicated to your Guides and to the Holy Trinity, and the single glass towards the front is dedicated to the Saint or Folk Saint. Again, the water is refreshed once a week. When you refresh the water in the glasses, no matter which setup you use, don’t pour the water down the drain, instead, pour it in the street off and away from your property. If you can’t pour it off and away from your property then pour the water into the toilet and flush it away.

The glass dedicated to the Saint or Folk Saint brings that Saints energy to your altar. I use this glass a little differently than others because I like to “ingest”, so to speak, the Saints energy ... I’ll explain, and hopefully I won’t confuse anyone.  

The glass dedicated to my chosen Folk Saint I add fresh water to it every single night before I go to sleep because I’ll be drinking from it the next morning. For me, I dedicate this glass to Folk Saint Dr Jose Gregorio Hernandez. Every time I place a fresh glass of water out for him I ask Dr. Hernandez to enhance the water with any spiritual medication I need to stay healthy and to instill it with his wisdom and knowledge so that I can take it in to my own body and use it to help others. The next morning, I drink the spiritually enhanced water to transfer these energies from him into and inside myself. I take 3 sips from his glass of water; the first sip is “in the name of the Father”, the second sip is “of the Son” and the third sip is “of the Holy Ghost”.....I say this as I take each sip. Then I pour the rest of the water outside on my doorstep to attract blessings to my home.

Sometimes I will also place a gallon jug of water on the altar and ask him to fill it with spiritual medication for healing so that those that are sick can drink a glass of it. I then keep this jug in the refrigerator for when it’s needed. This works really well.

Some, not all, who practice Curanderismo keep a bottle of blessed olive oil on the altar and a small empty container to pour the oil into. I’m one that does. I use this blessed oil to pour libation (a liquid offering) .... yes, Christians pour libation, they do it at Christian Mass it’s just not practiced much at home.

I use a small soapstone cup to hold the libation poured. For me, pouring libation is a way to ask for my ancestors to be forgiven of any sins they passed with, to cleanse and purify them, to allow them spiritual progress and peace, and to remove any obstacles from their journey.

So I bet your wondering “when do I pour libation” well that is done during my Ancestral Healing Prayer I use once a week at my altar. I attend my altar every day. I have a daily routine, a weekly routine, and a monthly routine. Anyway if ya’ll are interested in the Ancestral Healing Prayer I don’t mind sharing but I warn you its rather lengthy.

Many Blessings

Online Magical Courses

The Curious Curandera online courses are once again open for enrollment.

Registration begins NOW

Visit my website for more information on each of the courses.

Hurry seats go fast!

http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/Email_Courses.html

Santa Muerte Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Course Duration: 6 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

Healing Spiritual Illness Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Course Duration: 6 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

Spiritual Cleansing Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
Course Duration: 6 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

Saint Magic (Folk Magic) Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Course Duration: 6 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

Mastering the Art Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Course Duration: 6 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

Crystal Energy Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
Course Duration: 6 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

Reading The Spanish Cards Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
Course Duration: 4 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

Working With Angels Course
Begins: SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
Course Duration: 6 Weeks
Certificate: Yes

San Cipriano

There are two legends of San Cipriano. The first legend says that San Cipriano (St Cyprian of Antioch) was born in Carthage (249-251). As a child his parents dedicated him to the service of Apollo and when Cyprian was only seven years old his parents gave him to magicians where he would study sorcery and pagan ways. During his youth he traveled to many places learning the occult from some of the best known masters. His travels took him to Mount Olympus, there he learned to control weather conditions. 

At age ten he went to Argos and served the Goddess Juno where he learned the art of deception. During another voyage he went to Sparta, there he learned the rites of Necromancy. When Cyprian was twenty he traveled to Egypt where he stayed for ten years studying to cast powerful spells and incantations. By the time he was thirty he went to the Chaldeans to master the science of astrology, and it was there that he completed his study.

He eventually took the career as a professional sorcerer and did very well in the business. Soon after opening shop Cyprian met Justina, a young Christian woman, and fell madly in love with her. He tried to gain her love through sorcery and even conjured powerful spirits for assistance but nothing worked. Every day Justina prayed and marked herself with the sign of the cross which protected her. Every time one of Cyprian’s magical attempts failed he tried stronger and more powerful ones...each one failing. Cyprian was so impressed with the power of the Cross and Justina beliefs of prayer the he eventually gave up his pagan ways and became a Christian.
The second legend is that Cyprian never renounce sorcery, he secretly practiced it alongside of his Christian front. It’s believed that Cyprian and Justina became a magical dynamic duo. Legend tells that Cyprian recorded much of his occult knowledge in a secret book which is still circulating today.

Prayer
Prayer To San Cipriano For Protection
In the name of Jesus,
I invoke San Cipriano through this prayer
And charge it with my devotion.
San Cipriano, take me as your loyal and humble follower.
Grant me your protection
And liberate me of any danger and harm from my enemies.
Liberate me of evil, and of any rabid and poisonous animal,
Free me of curses and incantations.
Move away all dangers and harm that surround me.
Work through my body and teach me your knowledge
So that I may use them for the good of mankind. Amen

Stop Clowning Around

Coulrophobia … the fear of clowns.  For a while now, I’ve been reading articles from around the world reporting that someone dressed as a clown is standing on the street corner … just standing there staring at people who pass by, chasing someone, or luring children into secluded areas.  Everyone who has been a witness to these encounters all agree that it is creepy and frightening.  Today these reports and more frequent and more widely spread in areas all over the world. 

I have always loved clowns.  In fact, I have a collection of over 300 clown knick knacks that I’ve acquired over the years.  I agree, these reports that I am reading about are very concerning but they have made me look at my treasured collection in a different light.

  Here is a link of several clown reports. 

http://heatst.com/world/fear-of-clowns-is-suddenly-sweeping-the-world

What do you think?  Have you witnessed these creepy clowns in your area?

New Products

New in the Curious Curandera store are beautiful gemstone rosaries and pendulums. We carry regular Prayer Gemstone Rosaries, Santa Muerte Rosaries, and Day Of The Dead Rosaries. All of them are beautiful but the ones made from carved bone are awesome! Check them out on my website at

http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/Santa_Muerte_Rosaries.html

Mano Poderosa: Healing Amulet

Lets make a healing medal that you can either use on yourself or on others.

Obtain a Mano Poderosa medal.  You can find these medals all over the internet for pennies.  Fill a small shallow container with Holy Water and place the medal inside the container to soak while the following prayer is recited (if you’re not Christian than find your own prayer)

O God, at your word all things are made holy.

Pour your blessing upon this medal which you have made.

Grant that whoever gratefully makes use of it

according to your will and law may,

by calling on your holy name,

receive from you health of body

and salvation of soul,

through Christ our Lord.

Add three (3) drops of rosemary oil into the water.  Place the container outdoors for three (3) nights during the waning moon phase (to remove illness).  Make sure to get up early so that you can bring the container indoors before the sun comes up.

After the third night remove the medal from the container and pour the water outdoors at the main entrance of your home.

Now you will want to dress five (5) white votive candles with rosemary oil and recite the Mano Poderosa prayer.  The five white votives represent the five fingers of Jesus.  After the candles are properly dressed with oil arrange them in a circle.  Place the Mano Poderosa medal in the center of the circle and recite the following prayer.

O Powerful Hand of God!

I place my soul before you,

and in my despair and anguish,

beseech you to aid me with your almighty power.

At your feet I place the devotion of my sorrowful heart

that I might be delivered from my suffering.

May the loving kindness of your power

help me and give me strength and wisdom

to live in peace and happiness.

Thou who has suffered,

reach out thy hand to me with a great blessing. 

Thy pierced hand with thy saintly fingers

inspires my humble prayers. 

Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you.” 

Through thy most precious blood I seek,

and I ask that my prayers be heard and granted.

I carry a likeness of your pierced hand with me always

as a loving symbol of your great kindness. 

And I call on the graces necessary for peace and happiness. 

Grant me this request.  Amen.

The medal is ready for use.  You can use the medal in several ways.  First you could carry it in your pocket, purse, or around you neck to protect you from illness.....or.....you could sweep the medal over the body whenever you feel illness creeping up, asking for the powerful hand to remove it.....or.....you could keep it under your mattress and allow the healing to take place during sleep.

The medal should be cleansed at least once a month.  My preference is on the first Friday of the month.

Magical Online Courses

The Curious Curandera online courses are once again open for enrollment.

Registration begins NOW

Visit my website for more information on each of the courses.

http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/Email_Courses.html

Santa Muerte Course

Begins: JUNE 6, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Healing Spiritual Illness Course

Begins: JUNE 6, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Spiritual Cleansing Course

Begins: JUNE 9, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Saint Magic (Folk Magic) Course

Begins: JUNE 6, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Mastering the Art Course

Begins: JUNE 6, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Crystal Energy Course

Begins: JUNE 9, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Reading The Spanish Cards Course

Begins: JUNE 9, 2016

Course Duration: 4 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Working With Angels Course

Begins: JUNE 9, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Certificate: Yes

Beginning Homeopathy Course

Begins: JUNE 9, 2016

Course Duration: 6 Weeks

Ancestor Altar, Curandera Style

I believe that death is an extension of life on another plane; a graduation to a higher level of existence, but yet still connected to the physical earthly one. Here in the earthly, the vehicle is the body, there it’s the spirit.

Death is a daily part of a spiritual workers life. We petition spirit to assist us through candles, prayers, and divination. We want them around, we need them in order to achieve our goals.

In Curanderismo, it’s believed we couldn’t bring spiritual/magical workings to pass without the help of the dead, without the help of Spirit, a Saint, deceased family, or another deity, the living and the dead work as a team. The dead offer us insight, guidance, knowledge, secrets, wisdom, and assistance. Therefore keeping an ancestor altar is very important to us. The ancestor altar becomes a bridge from here to the world of the dead and a constant connection to loved ones.

Erecting and dedicating the space brings responsibility. Attend it at least once a week, daily is better. The altar is a place of give and take. We want the help of our deceased; they want our light, our prayers, and a connection to the living. Here is where you take your problems, worries, concerns, needs, and happiness. This is the place to sit and talk with the ancestors. Here you can ask for assistance, guidance, and solutions to any problem. On the other hand you don’t want to use the space only when you need something ... you also want to attend the altar just to spend time with them, without wanting something in return.

The more the altar is used, the more energy it builds. Eventually the energy becomes so powerful that someone walking near it can actually feel the power radiating from it.

Metal surfaces shouldn’t be used for the altar since most spirits are turned away from it. The best surface is wood. I find that an old chest-of-drawers works especially well since you can store things inside it.

In Curanderismo white altar cloths are used since it represents peace, purity, and the dead. Bright colors used on this altar are only for special occasions, not as an every day thing. This can include an ancestor’s birthday or some other special occasion.

Like everything else in spiritual work the altar is cleansed. Holy Water alone can be used for the cleansing but I like to prepare a special liquid for the job. I use a blend of cleansing herbs consisting of Rue, Basil, Hyssop, and Holy Water. Sometimes, if I feel moved, I may include Rosemary to the mix. After the cleansing, the altar is then spiritually fumigated. My preferred incense for fumigation is “Church Incense”. I think it’s also called “Gloria Incense”. This is the same incense that the Catholic Churches use.

The entire time I’m cleansing and fumigating the altar, I’m praying. I’ll start out with Psalm 23 and then pray from the heart asking to keep bad spirits away and for protection. To end the cleansing ritual I rub the entire surface of the altar with fresh yellow marigolds. These flowers represent death. Spirits like them and are attracted to them.

Photos of the deceased and items that belonged to them can be added. Don’t forget trinkets and gadgets they liked or were known to wear. Larger objects can be set on the floor near the altar or hung on the wall over the altar. Photos placed on the altar should never include a person who is still living. It’s believed to bring tremendous bad luck, illness, and possibly a shorter lifespan to the person.

The altar should also have a bible or a book of prayers so that you can read to your spirits. You can either choose what you will read or let them choose. Ask them to lead you to the bible verse or prayer they would like to hear then open the book at random and read from those pages. Sometimes what they lead you to is actually something you need for yourself rather than something they want.

A clear crystal vase with fresh cut flowers can go anywhere on the altar. The flowers can be of any kind and of any color. They serve as an offering and are also a sign of respect. The crystal vase amplifies everything at the altar (communication, work, energy, etc). Any candle burned here should be white.

A Crucifix and Holy Water are always present. The Holy Water can be placed in a spray bottle for ease of use. It’s used to cleanse your hands when you first approach the altar and to cleanse your hands after working there. Just mist your hands with it. You can also lightly spray the altar top with the Holy Water to refresh the spirits.

Offering are limitless and are only given during special occasions or for answered petitions. Offerings can include any food item and any type of beverage especially if it was the deceased favorite food.

The altar should be set up with at least 3 glasses of fresh water. Water is an important substance in Curanderismo. Sixty percent of our body is water, Seventy percent of our brain is water, Ninety percent of our lungs are water, and Eighty percent of our blood is water. Without it all living things would cease to exist. Water is refreshing and purifying, it’s also a very spiritual substance that links us to other realms. It’s a substance that makes communication to the dead easier, its presence absorbs negativity and it’s a vehicle to receive and transport spiritual energy.

The 3 glasses of water should be placed in the center of the altar to form a triangle shape. The point of the triangle should be facing towards the front of the altar and the long base facing towards the rear.

The glass to the right rear is dedicated to your maternal ancestors, the glass to the left rear is your paternal ancestors, and the single glass towards the front is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. This particular setup is for honoring only the ancestors. The water should be changed once a week or sooner if they develop a lot of bubbles.

In Curanderismo it’s okay to add one Saint or Folk Saint to the ancestor altar, one that you feel very close to ... but just one .... Santa Muerte is not included in this choice. I work closely with a particular Folk Saint so I also have his picture on the altar since I consider him to be part of the family. With the addition of a Saint or Folk Saint the glasses are set up in the same triangle pattern but the dedication of the glasses are different.

In this case, the glass to the right rear is dedicated to your maternal and paternal ancestors, the glass to the left rear is dedicated to your Guides and to the Holy Trinity, and the single glass towards the front is dedicated to the Saint or Folk Saint. Again, the water is refreshed once a week. When you refresh the water in the glasses, no matter which setup you use, don’t pour the water down the drain, instead, pour it in the street off and away from your property. If you can’t pour it off and away from your property then pour the water into the toilet and flush it away.

The glass dedicated to the Saint or Folk Saint brings that Saints energy to your altar. I use this glass a little differently than others because I like to “ingest”, so to speak, the Saints energy ... I’ll explain, and hopefully I won’t confuse anyone.  

The glass dedicated to my chosen Folk Saint I add fresh water to it every single night before I go to sleep because I’ll be drinking from it the next morning. For me, I dedicate this glass to Folk Saint Dr Jose Gregorio Hernandez. Every time I place a fresh glass of water out for him I ask Dr. Hernandez to enhance the water with any spiritual medication I need to stay healthy and to instill it with his wisdom and knowledge so that I can take it in to my own body and use it to help others. The next morning, I drink the spiritually enhanced water to transfer these energies from him into and inside myself. I take 3 sips from his glass of water; the first sip is “in the name of the Father”, the second sip is “of the Son” and the third sip is “of the Holy Ghost”.....I say this as I take each sip. Then I pour the rest of the water outside on my doorstep to attract blessings to my home.

Sometimes I will also place a gallon jug of water on the altar and ask him to fill it with spiritual medication for healing so that those that are sick can drink a glass of it. I then keep this jug in the refrigerator for when it’s needed. This works really well.

Some, not all, who practice Curanderismo keep a bottle of blessed olive oil on the altar and a small empty container to pour the oil into. I’m one that does. I use this blessed oil to pour libation (a liquid offering) .... yes, Christians pour libation, they do it at Christian Mass all the time, it’s just not practiced much at home.

I use a small soapstone cup to hold the libation poured. For me, pouring libation is a way to ask for my ancestors to be forgiven of any sins they passed with, to cleanse and purify them, to allow them spiritual progress and peace, and to remove any obstacles from their journey.

So I bet your wondering “when do I pour libation” well that is done during my Ancestral Healing Prayer I use once a week at my altar. I attend my altar every day. I have a daily routine, a weekly routine, and a monthly routine.

Many Blessings

New Products

I’m pleased to announce 3 new products that I created by hand … gemstone traditional rosaries, gemstone Santa Muerte rosaries, and gemstone pendulums. You’ll find them on my website http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/RitualStuff.html

History of the Rosary

Introduction to the Rosary and the Mysteries…

The rosary is one of the most cherished prayers of our Catholic Church. Introduced by the Apostles' Creed which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith, the Our Father (the Lord's Prayer) which introduces each mystery, three Hail Marys which is the angel's words announcing Christ's birth and Elizabeth's greeting to Mary, Glory Be (the Doxology), and concluded with Hail Holy Queen (the Salve Regina). The Rosary involves the recitation of five decades (5 sets of 10 beads) consisting of the Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and the Doxology. During this reciting, the individual meditates on the Mysteries of the events of our Lord's life and the witness of our Blessed Mother; one Mystery for each decade.

The Mysteries include Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries of the rosary. One set of Mysteries is prayed on a rosary that has five decades. Each set is prayed on designated days of the week. While praying a decade, you reflect on a mystery. There are specific mysteries for each day of the week. For example, when praying the Holy Rosary on a Monday or Saturday, you meditate on the Joyful Mysteries. During the recitation of first decade, you meditate on the Annunciation of Mary. During the recitation of the second decade, you meditate on the Visitation. During the recitation of the third decade, you meditate on the Nativity of Jesus, etc. There are variations however, and in some countries the rosary may even have different mysteries. Through these Mysteries, the individual brings to mind our Lord's incarnation, life, passion, death and resurrection from the dead. It also gives us the prayers to our Blessed Mother, who leads all believers to her Son. In contemplation of these Mysteries, the rosary brings us closer to our Lord and reveals a depth of faith that cannot be found in any other way.

Origin of the Rosary

The origin of the rosary is highly debated, but one thing for sure is that it was based on the use of "prayer beads". Many cultures in pre-Christian times used beads to aid in meditation and prayer. The word "bead" comes from the word "bede" which means prayer. Originally, the rosary was called "The Psalter of Jesus and Mary" because it consisted of the prayer Jesus gave us (The Our Father) and the prayer the Angel Gabriel gave us (The Hail Mary). The word Psalter, refers to the Book of Psalms in the Bible, which has 150 psalms. In early Christian times, beads were used to count Our Fathers and Hail Marys and were known as "Paternosters," the Latin for "Our Father." Many people of this age could not afford to purchase the Psalter which was used by the religious orders and clergy and because of lack of printing, was in short supply. In order to supply the great number of faithful with some prayer form which would be easily accessible, itinerant preachers developed and encouraged the use of a string with beads upon it. Each bead would represent a prayer to be said--either the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Doxology. In time, other prayers would be added to make up what we now call the Rosary.Between the 1100s and 1400s, the Christian "prayer beads" were linked with the verses of psalms and other phrases celebrating the lives of Jesus and emphasizes the unique role of Mary, Mother of God in the plan of salvation. It was in the 1200s that St Dominic was linked to the creation of the rosary. This has been debated ad infinitum, but during this time, the beads became known as the "rosarium" or "rose garden" a common name for an anthology of similar stories. As Dom Louis Cougaud stated in 1922, "The various elements which enter into the composition of that Catholic devotion commonly called the rosary are the product of a long and gradual development which began before St. Dominic's time, which continued without his having any share in it, and which only attained its final shape several centuries after his death."

During the 1400s, the structure of the five-decade rosary along with the Mysteries became the standard for what we now know as the Rosary. Blessed Alan de la Roche also furthered the use of the Rosary by unceasingly preaching it and expanding its reach to hundreds of thousands of souls. Then a Carthusian named Henry Kalkar is credited with bracketing the 150 Hail Marys (from the Psalter) into decades (sets of ten), separated by Our Fathers. Shortly thereafter, the Hail Mary's were separated into five decades. In 1520, Pope Leo X officially approved the universal use of the rosary. In 1571, St. Piux V declared the first Feast of the Holy Rosary which was made universal by Pope Clement XI. In 1917 the Blessed Mother selected for herself the name "Our Lady of the Rosary" at Fatima when she appeared to three children in Fatima saying, "I want you to continue to say your rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain the end of the war and peace in the world". In 2002 Pope John Paul II introduced new mysteries (Mysteries of the Light or Luminous Mysteries) to the Rosary and wrote his apostolic letter "On the Most Holy Rosary" (Rosarium Virginis Mariae).

Views on the Rosary

Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, "The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description."

Padre Pio, the famous stigmatic, said, 'Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today.'

Sister Lucia, who as a child was the most responsible of the three seers at Fatima, declared confidently when she was a nun, 'There is no problem that cannot be solved effectively by the Rosary and by our sacrifices.'

The Purpose of the Rosary

As a Catholic devotion, the Rosary involves meditating on the twenty mysteries surrounding the lives of Our Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Rosary engages our thoughts, our imagination, our emotions, and our desire. This serves the purpose of mobilizing our faculties in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompting a conversion of heart and a strengthening of our will to follow Christ. As you can see, the rosary we know today is the result of many evolutions dating back several hundred years. Although the manner in which the rosary is recited has changed, the results of praying the rosary are still the same.